Final answer:
The House of Representatives is based on population, with representation proportional to the size of the states, whereas the Senate provides equal representation, with each state having two senators, regardless of its population. Option a is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of having two separate houses in the legislature—The House of Representatives and The Senate—was to ensure that states are represented in two distinct ways. The House of Representatives is based on the population of the states, meaning states with larger populations have more representatives than smaller ones. This body reflects proportional representation, allowing for the direct election by people based on geographic districts. In contrast, The Senate provides equal representation for each state, wherein every state, regardless of its size or population, is allowed two senators, thereby representing state interests as whole entities within the federal framework.
The bicameral nature of the U.S. Congress comes from The Great Compromise of 1787, which struck a balance between small and large states in the legislature. By having these two forms of representation, the Founders intended to create a balance between popular sovereignty and the sovereignty of the states, ensuring that both the people at the district level and the states as political units have a voice in the federal legislative process.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is a) The House of Representatives is based on population, and the Senate provides equal representation to each state.